Influence of acclimation time on laboratory-recorded social behaviors of the termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

Sara Y. M. Watanabe; Derick Lira; Lázaro Q. Lira Filho; Paulo F. Cristaldo

doi:10.37486/2675-1305.ec08012

Authors

Sara Y. M. Watanabe Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9284-7879
Derick Lira Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6218-6988
Lázaro Q. Lira Filho Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6378-9269
Paulo F. Cristaldo Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4939-0487

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec08012

Keywords:

handling stress, bioassay standardization, eusocial insects, invertebrate behavior

Abstract

Behavioral assays are widely used to investigate social interactions in termites; however, methodological factors such as acclimation time prior to observation remain poorly standardized. Handling and confinement may induce transient stress responses that bias behavioral measurements, yet empirical assessments of this effect are scarce. Here, we evaluated the influence of short-term acclimation time on the expression of social behaviors in the termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) under laboratory conditions. Groups of termites were observed after different acclimation periods (5, 30 and 60 min.), and the frequencies of antennation, vibration, grooming, and trophallaxis were video recorded for posterior quantification. Acclimation time significantly affected vibration behavior, which was more frequent immediately after handling and declined following longer acclimation periods. In contrast, antennation, grooming, and trophallaxis were not significantly influenced by acclimation time. These results indicate that vibration is particularly sensitive to handling-induced stress, whereas other social behaviors are comparatively robust to short-term experimental disturbance. Our findings highlight the importance of reporting and standardizing acclimation time in termite behavioral assays and provide practical guidance for improving methodological consistency and comparability across studies.

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